Relieved dad praises paramedics after son choking on grapes revived

A relieved and grateful dad has shared his heartfelt thanks for public healthcare professionals after his son nearly choked to death on a grape.

In an open letter posted to his Facebook page, Steve Hulbert said he watched in horror as his five-year-old son, Oli, turned blue and eventually lost consciousness when the grapes he was eating became lodged in his throat.

Fortunately, paramedics were on the scene within minutes, successfully reviving Oli before he was transported to a local hospital.

"I ran to the ambulance carrying a limp boy with blue lips and wide staring eyes [and handed] him into the care of three incredible men," he wrote.

"They immediately set to work with the ultimate calmness and efficiency that only true professionalism can bring."

Hulbert wrote that support arrived in the form of two additional paramedic vehicles and an air ambulance within 10 minutes.

"And then, in a moment that changed the course of our lives, they dislodged the grape and Oli sucked in air," Hulbert wrote.

"His eyes came into focus and I dared to dream."

Oli was transported to the Royal Bristol Children's Hospital, near where the family lives, where he was attended to by a number of "wonderful" consultants, paediatricians and nurses.

Hulbert said he wanted to take the opportunity to point out that the UK National Health Service (NHS) had provided top-of-the-line care to his child, despite dwindling resources and ongoing pay disputes.

"In recent times…the lack of funding and the plunging staff morale have been used to create a picture of a service on the brink," he wrote.

"Today, I want to celebrate all that is good with the NHS. I want to shout thanks from the rooftops to the paramedics that arrived quickly enough to save Oli's life. I want to share with everyone how the team at the hospital exceeded every possible expectation and delivered care with compassion and information with smiles and warmth," he added.

"We are incredibly lucky to have this institution and the people that dedicate their lives to make ours better."